Marking machine



May 24, 1932, c. o. WENNING MARKING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 24, 1932. wENNlNG MARKING MACHINE 7 Filed July 7. 1950 2- Sheet s-Sheet 2 Patented May 24, 1932 .PATENTOF CLARENCE o. WENNING, on InnIAnAroLIs, INDIANA Man nd MAoHInn Application filed July 7,

This invention relates to a machine designed primarily for placing lines on the surfaces of streets and walks of all kinds for the purpose of directing traflic.

It is the practice frequently to place center lines along streets and highways, to mark off traffic lanes, safety zones, parking spaces, etc. While various kinds of apparatus have been devised for this purpose they have been gen erally unsatisfactory and, as a result, the use of ordinary hand brushes has been resorted to.

It is an. object of the present invention to provide a machine which is simple and compact in construction for placinglines on concrete, brick, bituminous, and other surfaces whether they be rough or smooth, the said apparatus being also useful as a means for marking tennis courts and the like.

A further object is to provide a machine of this character having means whereby the paint, even though formed of readily congealing materials such as oils, coaltar'products, etc., can be maintained in liquid form in the coldest temperatures.

A still further object is to provide a machine capable of using all types ofmarking materials whether they'be such as readily.

'cong-eal or whether they be of other liquids or solids such as sand, salt, lime, chalk dust,

calcium chloride, or the like.

With the foregoing and other ob-jectsin view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention, resides in the ,com-

bination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that chine and adjacent parts, some of which are 7 in elevation.

1930. Serial N6. 466,320.

Figure '4 is a horiz ontalsection through the applicator. j 1 i Referring to the figures by charactersof reference, 1 designates the frame of the ma-. chine which has rear supportingwheels 2 at the sides thereof-,and a single front wheel 3,

the sides of the frame preferably converging forwardly as at 4 to the front wheel while adj acenttothe center of the frame there are provided parallel longitudinal framemembers 5 spaced apart with wheel 3 projecting between them. a

The axle 6 of wheel 3 constitutes the pivot I l of forwardly extending side strips 7 between the front ends of which is journaled a guide 'wheel 8 in alinement with wheel 3.

Upwardly and rearwardly inclined han-- dles 9 are secured to the sides of frame 1 and are suitably braced, as by means of upstandin members 10 and across rod 11.

ecured to the longitudinal'frame members 5 are side plates 11" forming portions of the applicator. These are provided, near their front ends, with slots 12. In each of these slots is slidably mounted a stud 13 engaging the front movable section 14; of the applica: tor which consists of a metal platesubstantially U-shaped in transversesection and having its lower front edge bent backwardly as at 15 so as to'ride over any objections with which-itmay contact during the forward movement of the machine. 1 V.

V Additional side plates 16 are "pivotally connectedat 17 to the sides of thefrontsection -14 andother side plates18 are'pivotally connected'at 19 to-the side plates 16. i The rear plate 20 of the applicator has side wings 21 which 'areplvotally connectedto theplates 18. "Secured to the back plate 20 is an up- -'war :llyprojecting stem" 22 which works freely in across strip 23 connecting the-frame members-5 and 'a spring 24 is mounted on this stem and exerts a downward pressure again-st the rear portion of the applicator.

desired, cross strips 25 can connect the wings 21 and can be used for holding a transverse brush 26, 'the lower end of which is supported in the same plane or substantially'the same plane. with the lower edges of thewings terial into the applicator there is provided a container 27 which is; fixedly supported above the frame and has a downwardly tapered bottom 28 extending through a hous- It will beseenthat an .applicator such as described. constitutes a box-like structure open at the top and bottom and having articulated side wallscapable of relative movement about transverse axes; Furthermore ing 29. A delivery spout 30 extends from the bottom 28 intothe space .Withinthe applicator, and the lowerend of this spout, normally closed'by a valve3l which is pivoted at 32 and has an arm 33- against which bears a spring 34. A'fiexible actuating element 35 is I connected to arm 33'and' extends upwardly over-a guide pulley36 and thence forwardly Pintoengagement with another guide pulley. 37. Fromthis last pulley the connection ex j tends to a rod 38 to which itissecuredand which is slidable in guides 39 and 40 extendingfrom one of the handles f rod 38 where it can be conveniently re A handle 41 is provided at the upper end of and actuated by the operator.

An arm 42 is pivotally connected to arm 9 and has a rod 43 extendingtherefrom .and

' slidable in guide 40. An eye 44 is carried by this rod 43 and can be placed in engagement with handle 41. 'Aspring-45 connects arm 42 to one of theupstanding members 10 so that when the eye 44 is placed in engagement I with handle 41 the spring45. w ill'act to hold rod 38 against free movement.

- The housing 29.has openings 46 over are. arranged forwardly extending hoods 47. Shelf 48 is mounted on the frame of the-machine and carries heating elements which can be in the form of blowtorches 49, thejnozzles 50 of which. extend through: the openings 46.

W hen-the marking material isof such a nature as-to congeal readily during cold weather or if it requires heat to maintainit' in a fluid condition, the blow torches are igvnited 'andthe flames therefrom willcontact withand heat the bottom28 of the container. 7 As the machine is moved forwardly thewheel 8 canbe used as a guide and by. manipulat- 7 ing rod. 88 the valve 31 can be opened so as plicator for rolling the applicator will be given a circulating or rolling motion within the applicator and will tend to knead into the surface,all excess being back wall of the applicator.

brush in order to properly apply it, a brush 26 can be used. If it is of a pulverulent m'a scraped off .as the material passes under the If the material is of a nature requiring a 7 teria-l' it will be dropped into the applicator and delivered from under the back portion thereof. Obviously the material can be-desired by adjusting the stem 22 upwardly or downwardly relative to its supporting strip.

'What is claimed is: I

l. A-fmarking; machine including alportablestructure, *a box-like applicator movable livered from-the applicator as freely as detherewith andrelative thereto, said appli'ca- Y tor having articulated side walls and an-open bottom and means carried by'the structure for directing marking material into the'apto be marked.

contact 1 with the surface 2. A marking machine ,including a mov'a- V bly supported structure, a box-like applicator movable therewith having articulated side walls for sliding engagement with a surface to be treated, the bottom of the applicator bebeing marked, a container on they structure, and means under the control of an operator for directing markingmaterial from the con-' vtainerto the applicato'rfor rolling contact with the surface being marked.

- 3. A'marki-ng machine including a ma,

bly supported striicture,a box-like applicator connected thereto forup and down movement .ingadaptedtobe closed-solely by'the surface 7 relative to the structure-and havingiarticu lated side walls and an open bottom, and 1 means for directing marking fluidinto the applicator f-or rolling contact with; the surface being marked, thebackwall ofsaid applicator providing an outlet; thereund llbr I I I thefluid and constituting a, scraper for surplusfl'uid. 1-,

In testimony that I claim theforegoing as I have hereto afiixed my signature. CLARENCE O. W EN NING.

my own,

' to discharge a portion of the marking matei rial'into theapplicaton. This applicator has f close contact with the surface to be marked and,'consequently, the marking material will be held within bounds laterally but will be I spread in the direction of travel by emerging from beneath the rear member 20;Because it is indirectcontact with the surface being .3 marked, the'mass of marking material, in 

